The Seahawks’ bulldozing, candy-loving running back signed a four-year contract Sunday night that will keep him in a Seattle uniform for the prime of his NFL career and coming off his finest season.

Seattle announced the move less than 24 hours before the deadline for teams to use the franchise tag and Lynch would have been owed more than $7 million for one season if Seattle used the tag on him. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press that Lynch’s contract is worth $31 million, including $18 million guaranteed. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because terms of the deal were not officially announced.